3BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment ModelBACKGROUND:Adapted from a manual produced by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services in CanadaPiloted with Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland since 2003.THE MODEL:Designed for use by first contact staff and social care professionals to assess the severity of domestic abuse experienced by children and young people, living within families exposed to domestic violence.Gender specific; assessing male to female domestic violence.Provides safety planning interventions for children, young people and non-abusing parent.PRINCIPLES OF THE MODEL:Protecting children is the first priorityProtecting the non-abusing parent usually the mother helps protect the childProviding supportive resourcesPerpetrators are responsible for their abusive behaviourRespecting the non-abusing parents’ right to direct their life without placing children at increase risk of further abuse.

4BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment Model- 4 modulesAIMS:To help children and young people stay safe and healthyTo increase the competence of Social care professionals and Multi-agency staff when dealing with domestic violence through a training and mentoring package.OBJECTIVES:To assist staff to identify risks to children from domestic violenceTo assist staff in decisions whether a case presents as in need of a safeguarding response or family supportTo help staff to make appropriate intervention for children, non-abusing parent and perpetratorsTo provide a specific domestic violence risk assessment format within initial and core assessments

5BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Risk Assessment ModelFour separate modules:Module 1: Multi-agency domestic violence risk identification matrix (DVRIM)Designed for first contact multi-agency staff to enable screening/ identification of risks and to provide specific guidance for the initiation of CAF and appropriate levels of interventionModule 2: Domestic Violence Initial Assessment within Social careTraining consisting of a number of triggers for assessing the risk to children and the non abusing parent for use by Social care staff whilst undertaking an initial assessmentModule 3: Domestic Violence CORE assessment within Social Care A specific in-depth DV core assessment tool to be used by Social Care staff when children/ YP are subject to core assessment. Sec 17/47 of CA 89Module 4: Safety intervention with children and mothers Provides social care staff with safety planning interventions to be undertaken with children/yp and the non abusing parent during initial assessment and core assessment process.Suggested Implementation:Phase 1: Formation of Steering GroupPhase 2: Presentation to Local Safeguarding BoardPhase 3: Training Module 1: Multi-agency ½ day DV awareness training and use of the threshold scales and professional guidance.100 Multi-agency staff (inc CAF assessors, health professionals, education)Phase 4: Training Module 2 & 3- Two days training on initial core domestic violence riskassessment model.Phase 5: Training Module 4 -One day training on safety planning interventions with children and mothers.20 social workers or key practitioners. E.g. CP coordinator, PolicePhase 6: Action Learning Sets– practice learningsessions with a group of 5/6 staff

6BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment ModelOUTCOMES:Increased staff awareness and understanding of the dynamics of Domestic abuse and the risks domestic violence presents for children and young peopleAn improvement in practitioners ability to respond more effectively to domestic violence.Safety planning and risk assessment will enable staff to assess children’s safety in families where domestic violence occursNon-abusing parent will be more aware of the risks posed by domestic violence and be able to keep themselves and their child saferMore accurate core assessments where domestic violence is intensely assessedMore children and young people will be identified as requiring support and safeguardingChildren/ YP and the non-abusive parent will have safety planning interventions aimed at improving their safety.Model works in conjunction with other risk assessment tools –Common Assessment Framework (CAF); Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), and Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).BENEFITS:More specialised domestic violence assessment of families during section 47 & section 17 enquiriesProvides a consistent multi-agency framework to identify and assess level of riskIncreases safeguarding of children with greater informed decision making.Greater focus on the needs of children and victimsOffers holistic support to families

7BARNARDOS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Risk Assessment ModelBENEFITS :Greater support to staff dealing with domestic violence casesIt enhances the assessment process within CAF as a specific risk assessment tool.It supports the Early Intervention modelMaintains the focus of domestic violence as a main concern within the assessment framework without marginalising any other significant concern2 day Train the Trainer programme available for boroughs to maintain delivery of the Matrix in-house.Any further enquiries please contact:Trisha KellyTel: